Accordion-plaited vestibule-diaphragm.



H. H. SOHROYER.

ACCORDION PLAITED VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. B. 1912.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60-. PHDTO-LITHCL. WASHINGTON D. C

H. H. SUHROYER.

ACCORDION PLAITED VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1912.

L1 L1 Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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lUNliltFlD PATENT HARRY I-I. SCl-KROYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO THE ACME SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ACCORDION-FLAITED WESTIBULE-DIAIHRAGM.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. Apri18, 1912. Serial No. 689,357.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY H. SCI-IROYER, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAccordion Plaited Vestibule Diaphragms; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the numbers of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Railway vestibule diaphragms are frequently constructed of strips offabric-for example, cotton beltingsuperposed one upon another and theedges stitched, riveted or staple, or otherwise permanently securedtogether in pairs to afford accordion plaits when the diaphragm isextended and secured to the face plates. Owing to the hard service towhich such structures are subjected, it is not infrequent that thediaphragms become injured or torn, and in consequence, it is verydesirable to afford a construction permitting quick, easy andsatisfactory repair. Heretofore, where the fabric strips werepermanently secured edge to edge by rivets, staples or sewing. it hasbeen necessary to remove the diaphragm wholly from the vestibule topermit such repairs to be made, thus necessitating considerable expensefor labor, and inconvenience and delay.

T he object of this invention is to afford a construction whereby any ofthe strips of fabric forming the diaphragm, may be removed from thestructure without necessitating the removal of the diaphragm from thecar, or disturbing any other part of the diaphragm than that portion tobe repaired.

It is an object of the invention also to afford a construction whereinthe alternate edges of the strips forming the diaphragm are detachablyconnected together by releasable clamps, which act not only to hold theedges of the diaphragm strips in suitable engagement, but as wellaffords a reinforcement and support for the diaphragm.

It is also an object of the invention to afford a construction of theclass described, adapted for use on diaphragms of any kind and to permitof quick and satisfactory repair, thus indefinitely extending the lifeof the diaphragm and greatly reducing the expense of the same.

It is, of course, an object of the invention to afford an exceedinglystrong, simple and durable diaphragm, capable of being constructed orrepaired without expert assistance.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of adiaphragm embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentarysection taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail viewsimilar to Fig. 2. Fig. l is an enlarged section on line 44 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 55-of Fig. 2, and illustrating thecorner or shoulder construction of the diaphragm. Fig. 6 is an enlargedinner face view of the inner angle strip. Fig. 7 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 8 is an inner face view of the outer angle strip. Fig. 9is a transverse section taken through the leg of a diaphragm of the typeset forth in my prior Patent 1.063,6OT, issued on the 3rd day of June.1913, for car vestibule diaphragms, and illustrating a similar type ofdiaphragm.

As shown in the drawings: 1, indicates the diaphragm face plate, and 2,the vestibule face plate, which may be constructed as usual, and betweenwhich is secured the diaphragm in a familiar manner. Said diaphragmillustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 in elusive comprises strips of fabric suchas cotton belting, shaped or cut and fitted to form the two legs,shoulders, and top of the diaphragm. Said strips in the accordionplaited construction illustrated in the drawings, are indicated. by 3,l, 5, 6, 7, and 8 respectively, and are arranged adjacent one another,and the edges thereof are engaged together in pairs to afford theaccordion plaits. For the purpose of rigidly (but releasably) securingsaid diaphragm sections or strips together at the corresponding edges,releasable clamps are employed. These comprise an inner acute anglestrip 9, having sharp barbs or projections '10,

Patented Jan. 5, 11215.

punched outwardly to engage in the fabric near the edges of the strips.Said acute angle strips 9, are arranged between said edges with thevortex of the angle directed outwardly and substantially flush with theedge of the strip, and inclosing said edges and angle strip is anoutward angle strip 12, which fits over said edges and is engaged inplace by means of bolts 11, which extend therethrough and thread intothe nuts 13, in the inner angle strip. As shown, said clamping membersmay be con structed in short lengths, but, as shown, are constructed ofthe full length of the leg, and serve to bind the edges of the stripstogether for the entire length of the leg very firmly. The edges of thestrips at the top of the diaphragm are similarly secured together bymeans of clamping members, the outer of which, indicated by 15, iscurved downwardly at its ends to form the shoulders of the diaphragm andarticulated with the upper end of the leg clamps in overlapped relationby means of one of said bolts 11. The inner clamping member 16, isengaged as before described, between the edges of the strips.

As shown, a metallic hood is provided over the top of the diaphragm andextending well onto the shoulders. For this purpose, metallic plates 17,are shaped by stamping or otherwise, to afford an attaching flange 18,adapted for engagement to the face plate by means of the binding plate19, or angle bar 20, whereby said edges of the diaphragm are secured tothe face plates. The lower or free edge of one of said metallic platesextends downwardly into the diaphragm and the free end 21, thereof isflanged or turned upwardly at an angle, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, andsecured on the opposite side of said plate and between the member 15,and one of the aforesaid strips, is a similar plate 22, which curvesoutwardly to afford a convex lower surface, and at its lower end extendsdownwardly to near the angle formed by the lower edge of the firstdescribed plate or sheet, said plates together forming a metallicgutter, the extremities of which extend onto the shoulders of thediaphragm approximately to the legs to discharge free from the diaphragmlegs. This metallic gutter may also be quickly removed for repair orreplacement by the removal of the clamping members, and in consequence,the entire construction may readily be knocked down or dis-assembledwhen required, or any individual strip removed therefrom or insertedtherein without disturbing any of the remaining structure.

Of course, with diaphragms constructed as illustrated in Fig. 9, inwhich two strips of fabric of substantially double the width of thestrips forming the accordion plaits heretofore described, are bent to Ushape in cross section arranged side by side, and but a single pair ofedges is afforded around the diaphragm, requiring such a clamp. Theouter edges of said strips are, of course, connected with the respectiveface plates. In this construction, the same facility of repair isaiforded, and the same case in assembling the device in place.

Of course, it is to be understood that details of construction may bevaried. I do not purpose, therefore, limiting the patent to be grantedon this application, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as mv invention:

1. A vestibule diapl agm embracing a plurality of strips of fabric, aV-shaped clamp extending along the inside and outside edges of adjacentstrips, and bolts adjustably connecting said clamps to bind the stripstogether in angled relation at their edges.

2. A diaphragm comprising strips of fabric secured at their edges inangled relation, interfitting clamps and bolts connecting the sameaffording adjustable binding means for said strips.

3. A vestibule diaphragm comprising strips of fabric, inner and outercomplementary clamps engaging the same together at their edges, andbarbs on said clamps adapted to grip the fabric securely.

4. A diaphragm of the class described comprising flexible strips,V-shaped interfitting clamps releasably engaging the same together attheir edges affording accordion plaits and bolts affording adjustableconnections between said clamps.

5. A diaphragm comprising strips of fabric faced together and extendingaround the diaphragm. clamps releasably engaging the edges together inpairs, and embracing inner acute angle strips arranged between the edgesof the strips. outer acute angle strips engaging over said edges andsaid strips, bolts extending through said angle strips and between theedges. and rigidly engaging the same together, and barbs or projectionson one of said angle strips adapted to engage in the fabric to assist ingripping the same in place.

6. A device of the class described embracing complementary serratedreleasable clamps, and flexible strips engaged at their edges betweensaid clamps producing a diaphragm.

7. In av diaphragm of the class described strips of fabric, a clampadapted to engage thereover to inclose the edges thereof, a second clampadapted to engage the opposite faces of said strips at the same edgesand to co-act with said first clamp to bind said edges together andmeans unjustably and releasably engaging said clamps together.

8. In a device of the class described flexible strips, eo-acting innerand outer clamps lot adapted to bind the same together at the edges, andhinged connections between certain pairs of said coacting clamps.

9. In a device of the class described co- 5 acting complementary acuteangled clamps,

and fabric and metal troughing strlps'engaged therebetweenafiording apleated ves tibule diaphragm.

10. In a device of the class described co- 10 acting complementaryreleasable clamps.

fabric engaged therebetween and a pintle affording hinged connectionbetween certain like clamp members.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two sub- 15 scribing Witnesses.

HARRY H. SOHROYER.

Witnesses:

LAWRENCE REILESTEIN, GEORGE R. MOORE.

Uopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Tatents Washington, D. C."

